Building strong, robust Firefighter Mental Health - Mental Health in the First Responder Community 🚨
Description and Episode Hook
In this gripping episode of the Beneath the Helmet podcast, we dive deep into the hidden battles first responders face with mental health. 🧠💔 From the psychological toll of 24-hour shifts to the unique challenges of maintaining a strong brother and sisterhood in the fire service, our guests, including career firefighter and mental health advocate Matt Johnston, shed light on the urgent need for upstream care and early warning recognition. Discover the staggering increase in psychological injury rates since 2015 and the high cost to municipalities, all while exploring new pathways for counselling psychology within this critical profession. Tune in to unravel the complexities of mental health in the brave world of first responders. 🚒💡

Episode 42:

Episode Highlights
00:00:00 🚒 Introduction to the Mental Health Advocacy in the First Responder Community
00:02:55 👨‍🚒 Matthew Johnston's Journey from Counseling Psychology to Firefighting and Mental Health Advocacy
00:10:53 🚒 The Importance of Active Self-Care and Outdoor Activities for First Responders
00:21:50 👨‍🚒 The Critical Transition Home: Addressing the Stigma and Isolation in Mental Health
00:28:13 👩‍⚕️ The Role of Mental Health Professionals in Fire Service and the Need for Diverse Career Paths
00:32:32 👨‍⚕️ Organizational Stressors vs. Traumatic Events: The Impact on First Responders
00:39:42 👩‍⚕️ Collaborative Efforts to Standardize Support and Training for First Responders
00:48:22 👨‍⚕️ Matthew Johnston's Advocacy for Prioritizing Mental Health in First Responder Organizations
Resources and Recommendations
📚 Burnt Around the Edges - A Guide to Mastering Stress and Surviving Burnout - www.burntaroundtheedges.com
🌐 Online Training Program for Mental Health Professionals - Enhancing understanding of first responder needs.

Connect with Guest
Matthew Johnston: Career firefighter, psychologist, and mental health advocate. Passionate about bridging the gap between mental health care and first responders.

📧 Contact Matthew matt@firstresponderhealth.ca
🌐 www.firstresponderhealth.org - Directory of Occupationally Aware Healthcare Providers©

Connect with Show Host arjuna@silverarrowco.com
Connect with the Host: 🎙️Arjuna George – Fire Chief (ret)
Owner of Silver Arrow Coaching and Consulting, Beneath the Helmet Show, and Burnt Around the Edges author.

🌐 www.silverarrowco.com
🌐 www.burntaroundtheedges.com
🌐 www.beneaththehelmet.ca
📧 arjuna@silverarrowco.com
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